Thousands of Dollars Available in Grant Funding for Ohio’s Watershed Groups
Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation are partnering to offer funding grants up to $5,000 to groups working to protect water quality in Ohio. This marks the sixth year the two organizations have partnered to administer the Dominion Energy Watershed Mini Grant program.
Eligible organizations can submit their applications to Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
“We are excited to partner with Dominion Energy to support the important and innovative work of watershed groups across the state,” said Rich Cochran, president and CEO of the Land Conservancy. “Ohio’s watershed groups are critical to protecting the health of Ohio’s freshwater resources. Dominion Energy recognizes the important role that corporations can play in supporting the work of local organizations to build clean and healthy communities.”
Funding will be made available to eligible watershed groups in the following categories:
- Marketing, Promotions and Outreach Projects: Grants will be made for marketing and educational outreach projects (maximum request $1,500)
- Healthy Watershed Projects: Grants will be made for restoration or water quality enhancement projects (maximum request $2,500)
- Spotlight Project: A special grant award, up to $5,000, will be made in support of a larger water quality or restoration project. To be considered, projects must include at least 10 percent matching funds and be located in the overlapping service areas of Dominion Energy and the Land Conservancy. Counties eligible for the Spotlight Project include: Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Jefferson, Lake, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne Counties
Since the inception of the Dominion Energy Watershed Mini Grant program in 2015, more than $220,000 has been awarded to 38 watershed groups across the state.
“Dominion Energy is proud to partner with Western Reserve Land Conservancy for our sixth annual Watershed Mini Grants Program,” said Jim Eck, Vice President and General Manager of Ohio and West Virginia Distribution for Dominion Energy. “It’s a privilege to support these amazing environmental initiatives that are happening throughout the state of Ohio.”
In order to be eligible for grant funding, an organization must be a watershed group based in one of the counties served by Western Reserve Land Conservancy or Dominion Energy. Counties eligible for the Marketing, Promotions and Outreach Projects, and Healthy Watershed Projects include: Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Guernsey, Hardin, Harrison, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Mercer, Monroe, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Portage, Putnam, Sandusky, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Washington, Wayne and Wood.
Ohio’s watershed groups are critical to protecting the health of Ohio’s freshwater resources. Dominion Energy recognizes the important role that corporations can play in supporting the work of local organizations to build clean and healthy communities – Rich Cochran, president and CEO
The applicant must also be a qualified nonprofit, tax-exempt organization with a Federal Tax ID Number or be working with a qualified fiscal sponsor – a nonprofit or a county soil and water conservation district. New applicants must contact Western Reserve Land Conservancy to discuss their project to ensure eligibility. Returning applicants and past grant recipients are free to submit applications providing all previous grant projects are in progress or reporting requirements fulfilled.
Applications are available online: FORMS-2021-Dominion-Energy-Watershed-Mini-Grant-Program-Application
Applications sent to:
Email: mquinn@wrlandconservancy.org
U.S. Postal Service:
Dominion Energy Watershed Mini Grant Program
c/o Western Reserve Land Conservancy
3850 Chagrin River Road
Moreland Hills, OH 44022
Questions? Please contact Megan Quinn at 440.528.4150 or mquinn@wrlandconservancy.org.